evaluation of parenteral opioid analgesics utilization in patients hospitalized in a referral teaching hospital

background: opioid drugs are the most effective drugs for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. rates of opioid use are influenced by a variety of factors. the aim of this study was to determine the pattern of use of parenteral opioid drugs in hospitalized patients in a referral teaching hospital. methods: in a retrospective study, required data were extracted from medical records of adult patients who had received any parenteral opioid analgesic in the 6-month period from march 2013 to september 2013. the anatomical therapeutic chemical classification/defined daily doses (atc/ddd) system method was used for evaluation of opioid analgesic use in patients. results: the overall usage of parenteral opioid analgesics was 730.51 ddds with meperidine (pethidine) having the most amounts of use (588.69 ddds and 33.23 ddds/100 bed-days). overall, the male surgery ward and emergency department had the most amounts of use based on the number of ddds (445.8 ddds) and per 100 bed-days (1046 ddds/100 bed-days), respectively. methadone use was most in the infectious diseases ward. conclusion: the trend of parenteral opioid analgesics consumption is increasing in this hospital. therefore, better adherence to pain treatment guidelines by medical staff is necessary for rational use of these drugs.